Rail truck suspension



A. S. KROTZ RAIL TRUCK SUSPENSION June 21, 1949.

- Fii'ed July s, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1945 2. Sheets-Sheet I?,

June 2l, 1949. v A, s, KRO-rz 2,473,714

RAILA TRUCK SUSPENS IQN miba.-

Patented June 21, 1949 vRAIL TRUCK SUSPENSION Alvin VS. Kratz, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F.

Goodrich Company, New

` 'tion of New York York, N. Y., a corpora- Application July s, 1945, serial No. 603,051

This invention relates to vehicle trucks andV articillarly` to,v Atrucks of `vehicles for opermore pp ation on rails.

Wfh'fncrease of speed of operation of railway trains and similar rail operated vehicles it has besogne `dlesirable to, provide more eective cushioningof the load, .to improve riding comforti and to reduce noise yand vibration, as well as to improve Abraking of the vehicle.

{Ifiie principal objects vof .the present invention are. to' provide a rail truck with independent wheel suspension.to rprovide effective cushioning of the load, 170 provide., effective .braking of a vehicle having, independent Wheel suspension, to provide for .controlfofsidesway ofthe car body, and to provide adjustment of `the wheels to different gauges of track.l

',I'hese and other objects will appear from the :following description and the accompanying drawings. y

'.Of the drawings: i,

YFig. .1 is=a planvview'of a vehicle truck constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away.

AFig. 2` is a side elevation of the same, parts beingv broken away. v

14 claims. (C1. 1054182) f tends over the flange ring a l anges 'i8 and 2.8, va cushioning ring 2| including a body of soft resilient vulcanized Vrubber or other rubber-likematerial having metal facings on its. upper andlower faces and secured thereto, as by a bond of vulcanization, cushions the load between the center bearing and the barrel and per-k mits Ilateral movement of the center bearing, the ange 4IBr and flange ring i9 terminating short of the center bearing to permit s uch movement. A

- similar cushioning ring 22 is supportedby flange tension of the cushioning rings in shear.

*shafts 36, 3l.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the wheels and I its brakeinechansm, parts being broken away.

.Eig. 4 isa plan-view of a modified form of the invention, the torsion Iarm and' wheels being broken away.- f

Fig. 6 is .aside elevation of another modification ofthe invention; parts-being broken away.

'7 isa detail view'offa furtherfmodication of.theirvivention.y f

vB .eiarring :to the/drawings and rst to Figs. l to y3` thereof, thefcar body (not shown) is secured to aaloearing plate lllasfby,` bolts I'I. The plate l0 hasaqking pin lf2 integral` therewith which-extends vertically through a center bearing l 3. The centei-bearing has an outwardly extending ange Mahavinga racewayfinits upper face and antifriction, .balls -l5 mayybe interposed between the ilarigefandfthefrbearingplate within the racewa'yt.r,educe friction. y, The center bearing is supported., by'a body ,supporting structure it formed with a barrel I1' having a vertical axis. The .barrelhasan inwardly directed nange vitat its lower end andis cou'ntebored at its upper en'dft'o .provide ka shoulder ,for supporting a Vre-v movable Aflange* ring I9., The cente'r bearinghas an outwardly directed nlll'ge' 2l)` which extends weggegaan ,liege-teenage 14 maratea-z For transmitting the load to the rail wheels i 30, 3|, 32, 33, the body supporting structure is provided with ears 34, 35, having apertures exj tending laterally of the truck for engaging cross The cross shafts are parallel to eachl other and are secured in the ears against rotation, as by set screws 38. Each shaft extends ateach side of the barrel Il and the extending `ends support torsion springstructures 39, 40, 4I,

42, one on each extending end. v Each spring"` structure includes a cylindrical housing of metal and a body of resilient soft vulcanized rubber or A other rubber-like material surrounding the shaft between the shaft and the housing andsecured to a both, as by a bond of Vulcanization. The housing of 'each spring structure is secured to one ofga a set of similar torsion arms 45, 46, 41, 48 which are individually supported by the rail wheels ,as hereinafter described. n y

As the arms are of the same construction, yonly thearm 45 will be described. This arm has 'a split coller 49 adapted to engage the outer face y of 'thehousing of the spring structure 39.v .Bolts 50 .are provided to clamp it against the housing. A stub axle 5I is liixed to the arm and is secured l thereto by a nut 52 threaded on a reduced'portion thereof. The wheel 3D is rotatably journaled on the stub axle and roller or similar antifraction bearings 53, 54 are provided between the axle and the wheel to reduce friction.` The roller bearings` are heldin Aplace by a nut 55 threaded on'the* axle 'and are protected from dust by a hub cap 56 secured to the hub of the wheel. The arrangement is such thatby loosening the bolts 50, the arm] maybe adjusted with respect to the torsionA spring structure` both angularly to adjust the tensionV ofi thespring structure when the arm -`is horizontal, or axially of the spring kstructure to adjust .the wheels to tracks of different gauge.

I9. Between the)y To provide means for limiting movement of the torsion arms, each arm is provided with a depending apertured ear, such as 60, 6| and threaded rods 62, 63 extend through clearance apertures in the ears of each pair of torsion arms at a side of the truck. The rods have heads 64 at one end thereof and are threaded at the other end to receive stop nuts 65, 66 at each side of the ear 6|. The arrangement is such that the stop nuts may be adjusted along the rod to provide the proper clearance for the desired torsion arm movement.

Additional means may be provided for controllling or damping the deflection of the torsion arms, and for this purpose devices 10, 1| of the hydraulic damping type may be xed to the torsion arms 46, 48 and provided with operating arms 12, 13. Arms 14, may be fixed to torsion arms 45, 41 and links 16, 11 may be pivotally connected between arms 14 and 12 and arms 15 and 13 respectively.

In checks of this type, whichare of well known construction, movement of a piston through a cylinder ,-lled with a non-compressible liquid is resisted yby restricted -flow of the liquid from one end `of the cylinder to the other through a bypass andthe piston is connected to the operating arm by suitable gearing. The arrangement is such vthat ydeection of the torsion arms is reslstedbythe checking device.

To provide braking mechanism effective in braking the wheels while permitting independent suspension thereof, each torsion arm is provided with brake mechanism for the wheel mounted thereon. Themechanism on each wheel is similar and the -mechanism yrnountedcn arm 45 is-as follows:

Arm 45 is formed at its outer end with opposed hanger supporting bosses 80, 8| having aligned bores for receiving pivot pins 82, 83 on which hanger links 84,85 are pivotally suspended. The lower ends of the links pivotally support a pin 86 on whicha hollow brake shoe 81 is pivotally supported between .the links. Fulcrumed about the -pin 86 -withinthe sides of the brake shoe is a lever. arm. 88.

-At the other side of the wheel a pair of hanger links, such asa!) similarly suspend a similar brake shoe A90Y from aligned pivot pins such as 9| on arm 45. .and a brake lever 92 is pivotally fulcrumed on the brake shoe 90 with its upper end pivotallysecured at 9| to the arm 45. A pair of links Y93, .94, one at each side of wheel 30, connect the lower ,ends of levers 88 and 92. A vertical lever 95 is pivotally secured, as at 96 to arm 45. Its lower end is pivotally connected by a link 91to lever v88, and its upper end is engaged by an actuating rod 98. The arrangement is such that movement of .rod 98 to the left in Figs. 1 and 2 forces brake shoes 81 and 90 against the wheel.

The brakes for wheels 3|, 32, and 33 are similarly controlled by levers |00, |0|, |02 respectively.

For applying the brakes in unison an operating rod r|03 actuated by a brake operating cylinder (not shown) is connected as. at |04 to an equalizer arm. |05, the ends of which are connected by links |06, |01 to the centers of equalizer arms |08, |09. Oneendof equalizer. arm |08 is connected to lever |00 and the other end is connected by a link to oneV end -of emotion reversing lever ||0 the other end of which isconnected to link 98. The lever I0 is pivoted` atits center on torsion arm 45.- Oneeend of V.equalizer arm |09 is connected to lever v|02and the .opposite endis connected .by a link ||2 to a motion reversing arm ||3 pivoted on torsion arm 41. The other end of arm I3 is connected to lever |0|. The arrangement is such that a pull on rod |03 to the right of Figs. 1 and 2 sets all of the brake shoes against the wheels slinultaneously.

With a truck of this description the torsion arms may'bedeflected independentlyin a vertical direction while simultaneous brake action is provided and side sway of the vehicle body is accommodated and controlled by the cushion rings 2| and 22 `under shear stress of the rubber-like material.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

4 to 5, veven greater amount of side sway of the vehicle body is permitted. In this construction the bearingrplate |20 supports the car body from a center bearing |2| supported by cushioning rings such as |22 of rubber-like material within a barrel |23, the internal construction of the barrel .and center .bearing being identical to that shown in Fig. 2. The barrel, however, is provided with ears |24, |25 by which it is supported from a yoke Y|26.by links |21, |28, |29, |30. The links maybe parallel or upwardly convergentvor divergent as desired but are shown as upwardly convergent in arrangement so that movement of the center bearing to the left inFig. 5 rotates the car l body about a metacenter occurring above the center bearing at .the intersection of the extendedy lines intersecting the pivotal center of each link. The yoke |26 is provided with bearings |32, ,|33

in which shafts 34, 35 corresponding to the parallel core shafts 36, 31 ofV Figs. 1 and 2 are secured, as by set screws |36. Torsion spring structures |31, |38, |39, |40, each comprising an outer sleeve or housing of metal anda bushing of resilient soft vulcanized rubber or .other rubberlike material therewithin and secured as by .a bond of vulcanization to its housing and also to the shaft which it surrounds, are mounted on the projecting ends of theshafts |34, |35 and are engaged by ltorsion arms '|4|, |42, |43, |44 corresponding in construction and operation to the torsion wheel supporting arms 45, 46, 41 and 48 of the truckL of Fig. 1, which in turn support wheels and brake mechanism as in the construction previously described.

In the modification shownin Fig. 6, the construction is the same as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but thewheel supporting torsion arms |60,

|62 are provided with integral stops |63, |64 and |65, |56 respectively for limiting 4their movment. The stops |63, |65 are adapted to engage Aeach other upon extreme deflection o f arms |60, y|62 about shafts |61, 168 Iin a direction caused by" overloading of the car body, and the stops |64,

|66 are adapted to engage each other upon extreme deflection in theopposite direction. Each arm is adjustably secured, as bybolts |61, |68l passing through ears of a split Yhub of the armV about a'torsion spring structure |69, |10 secured to one of the shafts |61, |68. Each torsion spring structure preferably comprises an outer cylin drical housing |1| and a resilient bushing |12 of soft vvulcanized rubber or other rubber-like material bonded to the lhousing and the shaft as by a bond of vulcanization and capable of support- I ing the, load on one of 'the' wheelsjbyy torsional distortion.

iIn themodification .of the inventionillustrate torsion spring structure is adjustably clamped in the bearingll and surrounds a body |83 of resilient rubber-like material through which a shaft |84 partially extends. The shaft and the housing are bonded to the body of rubber-like material, as by a bond of vulcanization. A wheel engaging torsion arm 'I 85 is adjustably secured to the shaftand corresponds to the arm |44 of Fig. 4.; A second shaft |86 in axial alignment with shaft |84 also extends into the body |83 and engages the opposite wheel througha similari torsion arm. It is also bonded to the rubber body. The arrangement is such that the torsion arms have independent action as in the form's ofthe invention previously described, the truck corresponding in construction to that lshown in Figs. 4/nd L`iexcept for the shaftl and torsion" spring construction. The shafts |84 and |88 may be madeintegral in which case the arms thereon can be deected only in unison. In place of the single housing |82 and single body |83 a pair of` of the Wheels laterally of the truck to different gauges of track. Side sway of the car is accommodated'by the 4floating support of the center bearing, while the usualtruck side frames are eliminated. -f

. ,W-hile the wheels have been shown as mounted fon roller bearings, ball or plain bearings may be substituted therefor.

Variations be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims:

l. Afmultiple--wheeled truck for a rail-type vehiclepsaid truck comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a resilient torsion spring structure, said structure comprising an innermember, an outer member, and a resilient body of rubber-like material between said inner and outermembers and secured thereto, one of saidfmembers being non-rotatably secured with relation to said center bearing, a torsion arm, a securing member thereon adjustably secured to the other said member for adjustment axially thereof to vary the gage, and a rail Wheel rotatably secured to said arm for movement with said arm independently of the other Wheels of the truck.

2. A multiple-wheeled truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a resilient torsion spring structure, said structure comprising an inner member, an outer member, and a resilient body of rubber-like material between said inner and outer members and secured thereto, said center bearing being supported from one of said members for vertical movement, a torsion arm, a securing member thereon adjustably secured to theY other said member for adjustment axially thereof to vary the gage, and a rail wheel rotatably secured to said arm for movement with said arm independently of the other Wheels of the truck.

3. A multiple-Wheeled truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a resilient torsion spring structure, said structure comprising an inner member, an outer member, and a resiilent body =of rubber-like material between said inner and outer members and secured thereto, link means supporting said center bearing from one of said members and permitting movement of said center bearing axially of said member, a torsion arm, a clamp member thereon adjustabiy secured tothe other'said member for adjustment axialliT thereof'to vary the gage, and a rail Wheel rotatably secured to said arm for movement With said armfindependently'of the other Wheels of the truck: 11M' 4. A multiple-wheeled truck for a rail-type vehicle, saidy truckv comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a resilient torsion spring structure, said structure comprising an innermembe'r, 'an outer member, and a resilient body of rubber-like material between said inner and outer members and secured thereto, a yoke about said center bearing, link means for supporting 'said 'center bearing' from said yoke, means on said yoke for securing one of the members of vsaid spring` structure, a torsion arm, a clamp member', thereon adjustably secured to the other said member for adjustment axially thereofV to vary the gauge, and a rail wheel rotatably secured to said arm for' movement with said arm independently of the other Wheels of the truck.

5. A truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearingfor pivotally supporting va car; 'aresilient spring structure, a torsion arm'carried by said spring structure, a rail Wheel rotatably mounted on said arm, and means for-adjustably securing-said torsion arm to said spring structurewitn respect to said center bearing in a plurality of positions laterally of said truck. i

6. A truck forv a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a'c'enter bearing 'for pivotally supporting a "car, a resilient spring structure, said spring structure" comprising outer member, an inner memberyand a body of rubber-like material therebetween and secured thereto, means for securing one of said members to said center bearing, and means on the other said member and adjustable longitudinally thereoi:` :for supporting said spring `structure from a rail Wheel.

7. A truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing, a pair of resilient spring structures each comprising a shaft, a pair of housings thereabout, and a resilient body of rubber-like material between each housing and the shaft and secured thereto, means for holding the shafts of said spring structures in parallel relation, means for supporting said center bearing from said holding means and permitting lateral movement of said center bearing with relation thereto, a set of arms for supporting said center bearing through said spring structure, each arm being secured at one end thereof to one of said housings for vertical swinging movement independently of the other arms, and each arm having a rail wheel rotatably mounted on its opposite end, the rail wheels on respective arms being connected to each other only through said arms.

8. A truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a set of rail wheels, resilient springing means secured to said center bearing, said springing means comprising an inner member, an outer member, and a resilient body of rubberlike material between said inner and outer members and secured thereto, and t-orsion arms extending fore and aft of said truck each between an .independent wheel .and said center 'bearingand comprising -thesole means for guiding-said wheels and transmitting the load from said `center bearing thereto, each torsion arm being secured to `one of said members of one of Vsaid spring structures for swinging movement of the arm and its wheel independently of the other arms and wheels, andthe other member of said spring structurel being secured to saidv center bearing.

9. A truck for a rai1-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a resilient spring structure, a torsion arm carried by said spring structure, a rail wheel rotatably mounted yon said arm, means for adjustably securing said torsion arm to said spring structure to adjust the truck to tracks of diierent gauges, and brake means on said a-rm and movable therewith for 'braking said Wheel.

10. A truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing for pivotally supporting a car, a set of rail Wheels, resilient spring means secured to said center bearing, a torsion arm supporting said spring means from a Wheel, said torsion arm being. adjustable along said spring means from position to position for adjusting the wheel to tracks of different gauge without change in the springing rate, and stop means on said torsion arm for limiting the deflection thereof under load.

11. A truck for a rail--type-vehicle, said truck comprising a center bearing for vpivotally supporting a car, a set of rail wheels, resilient'spring means secured to said center bearing, torsion arms each supporting one of said spring means independently from a wheel, said torsion arms being adjustable along said spring means for adjusting the wheels `to tracks of diierent gauge, and means secured between oppositely extending torsion arms for vchecking the Vspeed of relative deflection of said arms underload.

12. A'truck for a vehicle, said truck comprising a car-supporting structure, a set of Wheels, resilient spring means mounted on said car-supporting structure, torsion arms extending forwardly and rearwardly from said car-supporting structure vin oppositely extending pairs, each torsion arm supporting one of Said spring means independently fromv a wheel, and means secured between oppositely rextending torsion arms -,qiv'mf1 pair for checking the speed of relative deflection -of said arms under load.

13. A truck for rail-type vehicles,I 4said truck,- .-comprising a car-supporting structure, a'set of rail wheels, resilient spring means mounted on" said car-supporting structure, torsion arms extending forwardly and rearwardly from said carf supporting structure in oppositely extending` pairs, each arm supporting one of said spring means independentlyfrom a wheel, said torsion arms being adjustable along said spring means to vary the gage of the truck, and means secured between oppositely extending torsion arms of a. pair-for checking the speed of relative deection of said arms under load.

14. A truck for a rail-type vehicle, said truokf comprising an l-l-shaped car-supporting structure having means for supporting the car froml its cross-bar, each limb of Vthe car-supporting# having a resilient spring means" mounted thereon, torsion arms extending for-f* structure wardly and rearwardly from said car-supporting structure in oppositely extending pairs mountedindependently on said resilient spring means of adjacent parallel limbs of the car supporting' structure, and a set of car Wheelsfor supporting said torsion arms and their spring means, each torsion arm supporting one of said spring means independently from a car wheel.

ALVIN S. KROTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

